Improvement in lap-boards



N. PETERS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, D c.

dbtited tant DANIEL P. COCK, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

Letters Patent No.i12,126, dated February 28, 1871.

lMlRO-VEMENT IN LAP-BOARDS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Eatent and making part of the same.

I, DANIEL P. COOK, of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain Improvements in Lap-Boards, of which the following -is a specitication.

Nature and Objects of the Invention.

My invention is a board of the class commonly culled lap-boards, made light and handy, with one side of the same rounded out so that it-can lit up to and partially around the bodyof the person holding it, with legs to support it, detachable at pleasure, the body of the board in sections, hinged together so that they can be folded together into a compact form, with a yard-stick and checker-board let into the surface of the board.

Description of the Accompanying Drawing.

Figure 1 is a perspective viewtoif upper surface of the lap-board, as a'whole.

Figure 2 is a detached .View of the rail', twhich fits upon that side of the board to which it is next when the board is unfolded, as represented in fig. l.

Fignre' is a view of the curved rail, which ts upon that side of the board to which it is next when the board is' unfolded, as represented in iig. 1.

Figure 4 is an edge View of the hoard when the sections are partially folded upon each other.

Figure 5 is a plan viervof the bottom of the extended board with the detachable legs attached for use. v

Figure 6 is a side elevation (in a position at right angles to the posit-ion of the board, as shown in tig. 1,) of the board and the detachablelegs, the board being raised somewhat off the legs to show the small studs or pins which project into the bottoni of the board.

General Description.

The letters a, b, and c indicate the threesections in which the board is made. a and b are hinged together en the upper surface of the board, and b and c on the lower surface, which arrangement allows the sections to fold upon each other, as shown in fig. 4.

vThe back edge of the board,'along its whole'length from a. to el, is tongued, and on this tongue ts the groove, represented by a heavy black line in the rail These two grooved rails d and e avail to hold the board atly extended when it is desired to use it.

On the upper surface of the board is a. measuringrule, f, marked oi into feet, inches, and proper sub# divisions, and, as a convenient length for the board is three feet, the extent of this measur'e will be just a. yard. This `may be painted upon the board or inlaid into the same. On the section b is made, in a .similar manner, the checker-board g. Y

The hinge which is preferred for uniting the scctions a b c is made of cloth, leather, or the like, let into the surface of the board along the whole length of the joining, its surface just flush with the surface p of the board.

As so far shown this is simply a lap-board to be `held. in the lap of the user. It is, however-,sometimes preferable that the board'should stand upon legs of its own. Such legs are shown in figs. 5 and 6.

The legs h andi are hinged to the base piece j, and fold down upon the same when not in use. w

They-are kept extended, when wanted so, bythe pawls k and L, pivoted in slots in the body of the base piece into which slots they fold, when not in use, out of the way.

0n the top of the base-piece j are two or more.

studs, m m, which tit' into circulaiholes made for them in the bottoni of the board.

The leg n is hinged to the base piece o, and has the stop-pawl 1).

The base piece o, also,

What is not expressly claimed herein' is supposed to be old.

Claims.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of the sections a b c, hinged together as described, with the grooved rails d and e, the whole constructed, arranged, andoperatcd substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. 'lhe combination ofthe parts specified in the immediately preceding clause with the detachable legs h i n, hinged, as described, to their respective base pieces, and provided with stop-pawls, asde scribed, the whole'constructed, arranged, and operated substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

' DANIEL l?. COOK.

Witnesses:

W. E. SLvroNDs, GEORGE G, Slm..

has studs fr r, t'wo or more, which sit into the bottom of the board. 

